Kiwis may become complacent and start to ignore government guidance if lockdowns become more frequent, according to experts.

Auckland moved back into a week-long level 3 lockdown on Sunday after two fresh community cases of Covid-19 were discovered.

But University of Auckland associate professor Susanna Trnka​ says if people no longer feel a sense of urgency they will be less compelled to follow the rules.

"During the first lockdown it was understood that extraordinary times require extraordinary measures,” the social anthropologist said.

"But as it becomes lockdown two, three and four, the sense of the urgency has shifted and isn't so palpable."

Senior lecturer Sarah Cowie, who is an expert on psychology and behaviour, said it was "certainly a possibility" that people could become more complacent during recurring lockdowns.

“There's evidence from places overseas that have been flung in and out of lockdown that people do become a little bit more complacent the more you have,” she said.

“If we are doing things in line with level 3 and not seeing the benefits of that, it might feel discouraging."

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